AN: Here's another chapter. Hope you like. Thanks to Angelixlight and TristeAlma

Rouge's POV

Kitty danced into the cafeteria eight Saturday morning singing loudly, "Weekend, Weekend, it's the weekend! No homework! Time for shopping!"

Everyone groaned loudly. Peter glanced up with his eyes still half-closed from sleep, "You may be a morning person Kitty, but some of us prefer to sleep in.

Kitty just giggled still oddly happy, "Your just jealous because I get to go to the mall and you're stuck here with a school project"

Peter just grunted and ignored the small girl and everyone else laughed or smiled tiredly. Chatty shifted nervously in her seat picking at her half-eaten pancakes. She's always moody in the morning but, it's seems more noticeable today because of Kitty's increasingly happy mood. I suppose she's not looking forward to the shopping spree today.

The teachers decided that Chatty needed new clothes so Storm enlisted me and Kitty to help. I decided to invite Bobby, which meant John had to come to. Kitty tried (hard) to get Peter to come, but he had a book report.

I looked across the cafeteria at Robin noticing the she was eating with Warren again.

"Do ya'll know if Robin's going shopping to? I wouldn't want her to feel left out"

Chatty looked up sighing, "I think she said something about going with Warren or something."

I didn't press it further, figuring that was all I was going to get out of her. Sometimes I wonder about those two. They seem willing to do anything for each other, except hang out with each other or acknowledge the others presence.

As we slowly finished our breakfast, Chatty suddenly started coughing and choking. John and Peter who were seated at either side of her asked in unison, "Are you ok?"

Chatty rolled her eyes through more coughs, "Both of you…*cough*… cool it…*cough, cough*… I'm fine…*cough*… I just got to stop inhaling my food…*cough* while I'm eating."

The boys let it slide, but she continued coughing for several more minutes before running out of the room still choking. Peter watched her leave warily, "Should someone go and see if she's ok?"

John snorted, "You go, she'd probably smack anyone who tried"

The others laughed quietly even though we were all worried. Chatty didn't return for the rest of the meal. We headed to the entrance of the mansion.

Chatty was already there arguing with Robin. I overheard a few snatches of conversation.

"…down it was just a cough"

"admit it you're not telling me…"

"none of you're business"

"I'm worried about you"

"…not the person you should be worried about"

"not blind…bound to notice"

"you'd be surprised… shut up!…"

"that's not true"

I stopped listening when John and Bobby walked up behind me. Bobby leaned over smiling, "What do you say to a movie today? Just the two of us."

John rolled his eyes, not missing Bobby's hint, "I get it. I do have a life of my own. Go on your little date I get it", he slouched away slowly. Kitty pulled him into a conversation obviously against his will.

Bobby looked over his shoulder, "Do you think that was too mean?"

I snorted, "You are too nice for your own good, sugar. He just sulking. So what about that date?"

He turned back toward me with that goofy smile on his face. He leaned forward close enough that I could feel his warm breath on my lips. My breathing sped up and I stopped thinking about my power briefly. He gave me a quick peck on the lips and backed off smiling. I raised my eyebrow and was about to tell him of , but one of the seniors interrupted us. It was time to head to the mall.

When we arrived at the mall, Kitty immediately ran off to get some more clothes with a few other girls, but Chatty had to go to the eyeglasses store. The rest of us started in that general direction.

Chatty had blue ear buds in her ears and she was bobbing her head. John nudged her asking, "What are you listening to?"

She glanced at him stonily holding the other end of the chord that wasn't attached to anything, "Unplugged. They're a great band"

John seemed unsatisfied with the answer so he continued to badger her about music and bands. Bobby grabbed the sleeve of my shirt pulling me away from the other two. "Come on let's ditch them. They won't even notice".

I started to protest, but it really was to good an offer to resist.

John's POV

Chatty is now getting her eyes checked and I am in the music store I've been saving all my money for months, not that there much to buy in this cheap, old mall. I have plenty of money for more CD's then I need, but I have a plan to get something for Chatty to attach her earphones.

After an hour or so of looking for new music Chatty wandered in. her new glasses had bright purple frames. She walked over looking around in interest. I snapped my fingers in her face getting her attention, "Is gullible written on the ceiling or something?"

She glanced at me studying my face closely. "No it isn't. I can see it. I can see everything. I had no idea I was this blind. It is bizarre. What's that?"

She was looking at the new portable CD player I'd gotten. "Oh, it's for you so you don't have to listen to nothing all the time".

She pulled away slightly, "You really didn't need to get that. Plus I don't have any CDs to play."

I grinned, "That's what friends are for. I have plenty of music for you. I can't believe you've never heard Foreigner before."

She laughed and accepted the player. "Thank you, really that is really cool. Much better than clothes shopping."

I laughed clicking his lighter absentmindedly. "Yeah, how about getting lunch first"

I smiled and nodded, "Now, that is a brilliant idea"

We walked over to the food court and split for meals. I wanted Chinese and she walked over the pizza shop.

After I got my meal I started to look for a table. I sat down at an empty table that looked relatively clean. As I sat down I began to look around for Chatty. I noticed her across the cafeteria. She was talking to some guy. He had wire-framed glass and dark, curly hair.

She was to far away to call or wave so I just sat back and started eating my meal. I glanced back at Chatty and saw her hugging the strange boy. I felt a flare of anger I couldn't place.

My brooding thoughts were interrupted by Kitty. She slid next to me munching on a sub. "What's up? Did you lose everyone?"

I straightened up in my seat, "No! Bobby and Rogue are on a date and Chatty is right over there" I gestured toward her and the guy.

Kitty followed my gaze and laughed, "Oh, that's adorable. You are jealous".

I looked up surprised, "Excuse me. I am not jealous. I'm just curious".

She nodded not believing a word I said, "I'm not blind or stupid. I see the way you look at her"

I leaned back in my chair looking back at her carefully, "Before you continue, you should know I happen to be very observant myself. Don't push my buttons and I won't push yours"

Kitty blushed dark red and turned around huffily. I glanced back at Chatty and felt a surge of anger when I saw the guy leaning down and pressing a kiss against her lips. I wasn't aware I said anything, but Kitty looked around a let out a squeal at what she saw. "That is so cute! Looks like you missed you're shot"

I glared daggers at her, but that only appeared to amuse her. I looked back up and saw them coming toward us. Chatty seemed oddly happy with him. As they made it to the table, I stood up. Chatty introduced the guy as Jack. I smiled flakily flicking my Zippo loudly, "Nice to meet you. You new around here."

"Do I sound like I from 'around here'", replied scathingly in a thick British accent.

I nodded appreciably, "I can hear that now. Thanks for the tip off."

Kitty seemed to be well aware of the tense atmosphere and ran back to her other friends. Chatty seemed to sense it as well putting on false warmth, "Ok, let's just sit and talk like normal happy friends. No weirdness."

I nodded, but didn't move. Jack didn't move either speaking conversationally, "What do you do?"

"You first. I wouldn't want to steal your thunder."

He smirked and held out his hand. At first, darkness surrounded his hand, but then a small ball of light formed in his palm shining brightly. "That is barely a fraction of what I can do. I can manipulate light to make you see anything I want"

I smiled, "That is a great party trick. Watch this"

I flicked open my lighter forming a palm sized fireball. I calmly turned the raw fire into a snake and lazily let it slither up my arm, burning lightly of course. I didn't want to get in trouble for using abilities so near the school.

Jack snorted, "Real original power."

He sat next to Chatty. Chatty was eating her pizza quickly, but I heard her mutter "boys" under her breath.

I was the first to break the silence, "You to know each other. Where'd you meet?"

Chatty, for once, lived up to her name being the only one contributing anything to the conversation. "We've know each other for years. We through school and bonded through… not being liked. We split soon before I met Robin. I can't believe you're back here though. I thought you were going back to England to look for you're family, or something.

Jack laughed, "I did. Apparently, my parent wanted to get rid of me and they were even more sure of their decision when they realized I was a mutant. What have you been doing all these years? What happened to the others?"

Before I could process the terms others, Chatty was already explaining, "We have been wandering around the country for years, literally. Shady left almost three years ago, but Robin's still living the dream."

Jack seemed shocked, "Wait left you don't mean…", she nodded silently, "Chatty why? You know that's why I left when I did."

I was tired of being the third wheel in the conversation, "Sorry, but who is Shady".

Jack answered before Chatty could interrupt, "Her older brother, now shut up"

The guy turned back to Chatty with a look of great concern, "Look you can't continue to stay with her like that. You know it's dangerous. Come with me, I can take care of you."

I don't know what ticked me off more, what he was saying or that Chatty seemed to agree with him. "OK, I would usually stay out of a conversation like this, I really would. But, I am curious as to why Robin is so dangerous, because she is living in the same building as me and many other kids".

Chatty looked alarmed and tried to cover up the subject, "She isn't dangerous anymore. She learned how to control all that… stuff"

Jack clearly didn't believe her, "She has it all under control, that's fantastic. You won't mind me telling the truth ,then.", he leaned toward me, "Robin is a black hole of power. Her outside ability lets her strengthen or weaken others, but even when she not doing that her body automatically drains power from anyone in her immediate area. It's not much really, but when you spend every moment of everyday with her for five years it's easy to see the effects".

I was shocked into silence, but Chatty seemed furious, "What right did you have to say that? You never even met her!"

Jack wasn't guilty for what he said, "My right is she killed your brother. You expect me to believe you just forgave her"

Chatty stood up and trying to keep a clam voice said, "Yeah, I did forgive her, but I still haven't forgiven you", she ran off quickly getting lost in the crowd.

Jack tried to run after her, but I grabbed his arm spinning him around to face me. "What was that?"

He seemed upset that he'd angered her, "Look somebody needs to say it. I'm not trying to be a jerk. Chatty is in danger of dying if this isn't taken care of. Think about that the next time you talk to Robin."

I froze letting my grip on his arm lose, refusing to accept what he'd just said. I couldn't help myself it made perfect sense. After seeing the signs all week, I couldn't deny what he said almost had to be true.